David Moyes has spoken out for the first time since his sacking as Manchester United manager, saying he understood fans' frustration after his ill-fated 10-month spell in charge at Old Trafford.

"During this period of transition, performances and results have not been what Manchester United and its fans are used to or expect, and I both understand and share their frustration," the 50-year-old Scot said in a statement.

"I have always believed that a manager never stops learning during his career, and I know I will take invaluable experience from my time as United's manager.

"I remain proud to have led the team to the quarter-finals of this year's Champions League and I remain grateful to Sir Alex Ferguson for believing in my ability and giving me the chance to manage Manchester United."

Moyes issued the statement through the League Manager's Association (LMA).

He spoke warmly of the United staff but, perhaps pointedly, not the players.

Moyes moved from Everton to succeed Ferguson at the Old Trafford helm last July, but the season quickly became a nightmare as the team slumped to a series of embarrassing defeats.

He was fired on Tuesday, with United slumping to seventh place in the Premier League and being eliminated from both domestic cup competitions and the Champions League.

Newspapers reported on Wednesday that Ferguson, who last year urged fans to get behind the new man, had supported the decision to sack Moyes and would play a role in the appointment of the next manager.

Moyes said he was and would always be proud to have been appointed manager of United.

"Taking charge after such a long period of continuous stability and success at the club was inevitably going to be a significant challenge, but it was one which I relished and never had a second thought about taking on," he said.

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"The scale of the manager's job at United is immense, but I have never stepped away from hard work and the same applies to my coaching staff.

"I thank them for their dedication and loyalty throughout the last season."

United have an urgent need to revamp their ageing squad and are expected to ship out several high-profile players at season's end.

Moyes said he had already been working on that when the owning Glazer family decided to call time, the manager informed of his dismissal after details had been widely leaked to the media.

"We were fully focused and committed to the process of the fundamental rebuilding that is required for the senior squad," he said in his statement.

"This had to be achieved whilst delivering positive results (in the Premier League and Champions League)."

LMA chief executive Richard Bevan said United had handled the dismissal in an "unprofessional manner".

"The LMA is very disappointed with the nature of David's departure from Manchester United and to read extensive reports in the press, confirming David's sacking, before David himself had been spoken to officially by the club," he said.